Jill J. Jenkins, 46, of Missoula, passed away Saturday, November 25, 2017 in Missoula due to injuries sustained in an accident.
She was born a twin on July 23, 1971 in Hamilton with her brother, Jack, to James and Mary Louise Jenkins.
Jill graduated from Darby High School in 1990. She began having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy during high school. That didn’t stop her from sports in high school. She participated as basketball and volleyball manager though her greatest sport was track. Jill was voted “Most Inspirational” by the Corvallis High School track team and coach. She never stopped running even when she had seizures, she would just rest and then run again.
During high school, she worked for Bud and Shirley Larkin and People’s Market. Jill then worked in West Yellowstone for a year.
Jill always had a smile on her face and loved her family and many friends in Missoula, especially James and Caroline Hathaway. Caroline was Jill’s godmother and they attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Church regularly together. Jill worked for the Safeway and now Fresh Market on Broadway Avenue for over 17 years.
Jill was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ernest Szechany, Jr. She is survived by her parents of Darby; her siblings, William Jenkins and wife Linda of Upton, WY; Daniel B Jenkins and wife Kim of Missoula, Shelly Hayes and husband Brian of Shelby, MT, James K. Jenkins of Missoula, David Jenkins and wife Lisa of Soda Springs, ID and Jack Jenkins and wife Heather of Darby; her grandmother, Helen Jenkins of Corvallis; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 29 at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton with a reception following. Interment followed at the Corvallis Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com
Jill, your family loves you so much and we are going to miss you and your beautiful smile.